External protection system for a vehicle

Abstract

An external protection system for a vehicle includes a plurality of external guards in communication with a passenger compartment. The plurality of guards are spaced a distance away from the passenger compartment such that a crush zone exists between each of the plurality of guards and the passenger compartment. This provides a lightweight vehicle with an increased level of protection.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present invention claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 448,081, which was filed on Feb. 18, 2003, for an invention entitled “External Protection System for a Vehicle.”BACKGROUND[0002]In today's operation of smaller or lighter vehicles in mixed traffic with larger and heavier vehicles it is generally understood that the smaller and lighter vehicles and their occupants carry a higher risk of damage and injury than do the larger and heavier vehicles and their occupants. An extreme illustration occurs where a small sports car is broad sided by a loaded semi-tractor trailer truck at full speed. There is also much concern over disparate contact heights for front and rear impacts. Due to these issues, the buying public has heavily migrated to purchasing larger and safer vehicles (by size and weight, and perceptions from a higher ride height). Yet, today there is critical need for improving the fuel efficiency of vehi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides an external protection system that is integrated into the design of a vehicle to provide better protection to occupants of a lightweight vehicle and equal or better protection to occupants of a much heavier vehicle. The system does not negatively impact the vehicle's aerodynamic capabilities, side, forward, and rearward visibility, or impact the vehicle's impact crush zone. It also minimizes the vehicle frontal surface area relative to air resistance to vehicle movement. The system is discrete from the body of the vehicle and located within the wheel stance width of the vehicle."

Problems solved by technology

In today's operation of smaller or lighter vehicles in mixed traffic with larger and heavier vehicles it is generally understood that the smaller and lighter vehicles and their occupants carry a higher risk of damage and injury than do the larger and heavier vehicles and their occupants.

However, the realities stated above on the public perceptions of personal safety in mixed traffic and the realities of the trucking industry's continued existence on the roads, all have actually led to a cultural situation seriously limiting acceptance of present fuel efficient vehicles.

This leaves little room for either a crush zone or the adequate operation of an airbag system.

However, the designs have not provided any significant advance in crash protection.

The vehicles are still highly vulnerable in traffic with large trucks, and even more so perceptually.

While today most are of cosmetic function only, functional ones are only on larger vehicles and are not for the purpose of occupant crash protection from another vehicle.

In cases where they are functional, they are designed for aerodynamic purposes only, and do not function as crash protection devices.

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